Electric switch.



No. 65I,'595. Patented 1unel2, 1900.

Wa ELY'.

ELECTRIC SWITCH" (Application med Feb. 5, 1898.) (No Model.) 2Sheis-Sheef I rzl WITNEEEES 5%' M u/k/ x ma mms Patins cn, Pwomuwo,wAsmNoroN n L No. 65|,595. Y Patented lune l2, 1900.

w. ELY. u

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

(Application led Feb, 5, 1898,) (No Model.) ts-hyet 2.

www ATTY.

n: mams PETERS co. Pnoauwo, wnsnwnmu, n n

UNITED STATES PATENT FEICE.

-WILLIAM ELY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SFECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,595, dated J une12, 1900.

Application filed February 5, 1898. Serial No. 669,181. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ELY, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Providence, in the State of RhodeIsland, have invented a new and useful Electric Switch, of which thefollowing is a speciiication.

My invention consists in certain novel features, combinations, andarrangements hereinafter described, and shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure l is a plan View showing my switch closed tomake the connection. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, and Fig. 3is a similar view showing the switch open to break the circuit, thedotted lines showin g the movement of the contactblade. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal section on line 4 4 of Fig. l, showing in side elevationthe contact-brush and portions of the base and contact-blade and incross-section the pivotal axis of the blade. Fig. 5 is a verticalsection on line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. Gis alongitudinal section on line 66 of Fig. l, showing in side elevation the engaging contact-brush and aportion of the base and contact-blade and partly in section theactuating-lever and the mechanism for automatically unlocking theactuating-lever from the contact-blade. Fig. 7 is a similar view showingin dottedllines the mode of automatically locking the lever and bladetogether and in solid lines the lever raised free from the blade. Fig. 8is a similar view of another form of the automatic lookin g andreleasing mechanism. Figs. 9 and 10 are plan views, partly in section,of the actuating-lever and other forms of controllable mechanism forlocking the lever and blade together and for releasing them, bothoperations being at the will of the operator.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts where they occur in thedrawings.

A represents a switchboard or base constructed in the usual manner ofinsulating or non-conductingmaterial. B represents D an actuating leveror member consist.

`ing of a head portion, as E', and preferably two parallel arms E2 E3,united at one end to said head portion and as to their opposite endspivoted upon said shaft O independently of the blade D and arranged formovement thereon without reference to the movement of said blade. Saidlever is provided .with a handle E5, preferably in line with the arms E2E3, which serves as means for operating the lever. In said head portionE is located a longitudinal axially-directed bore or perforation, withinwhich is fitted for reci procating movement a bolt vor slide e,preferably controlled by springs, as e2 e3, and

adapted for releasable engagement with the before-described notch orgroove d in the end of the blade'D, for the purposes hereinafterdescribed. Said slide or bolt is provided with a transverse slot, as e',at its forward end, adapted to receive on the downward movement of theactuatinglever a spring or hinged post F, secured upon the base A andprovided with an an gularly-directed toepiece F', adapted by engagementwith the downwardly-moving end of the blade D to force said postbackward, thereby withdrawing the slide e from the notch CZ andreleasing the actuatingdever from the blade, Fig. 6, and permittihg thelever to be raised free from the blade without breaking or disturbingthe contact between the blade and the engaging contact post or brush, asB. Whenever it may be desirable to break the circuit without the use ofthe intervening springs hereinafter described, the actuating-lever andthe blade are locked together' by moving the lever down into theposition indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 7, when the post F,instead of entering and engaging with the slot c', as in the formercase, will press against the head of the slide or key c and force theopposite end of the lat- IOO ter into the notch d in the end of theblade. Then by raising the lever the blade will be withdrawn from theengaging postor brush 1 B. The operation of the several parts thus fardescribed will be the same when the contact and break is made'in adouble-throw switch with a second brush or post, as D. Extensiblesprings G G/ connect the blade and actuating-lever and when extended bythe rotation of the lever serve by their reaction to impart suddenpositive movement to the blade in either direction to withdraw it fromthe brush B or B', as the case may be. The rear ends of said arms E2 E3are enlarged, as at E4 E4, Figs. l, 2, and 3, and serve to impartinitial positive movement to the blade D by striking against the underside of the blade as the actuating-lever is rotated,or preferably bystriking against lugs or projections placed on the side faces of theblade for that purpose.

A spring-controlled pin c, arranged for reciprocating movementin lheside of the standard C, serves as a means for holding the lever andblade in their raised position out of contact with the posts I3 and Bwhen the circuit is broken. The same purpose may be accomplished byfriction-springs secured upon the base and arranged to engage with therear ends of the lever or blade, or both.

The contact-brushes B2 B3, I construct of material of high conductivityand provide them with a centrally-located perforation l) of somewhatgreater diameter than the shaft C', whereby said brushes are adapted tolit loosely around said shaft and allow the latter free rotativemovement unimpeded by contact with the brushes. Said brushes may consistof a single piece of metal or they may preferably be made of severalpieces and the pieces separated by vertical slots to give elasticity tothe brush; but in any case one of such pieces is provided with thecentrally-located perforation Z9, which may or may not be provided witha slot b', radiating from said perforation, as b. In the drawings I haveshown said brushes secured one upon each side of an integral flange A/of about the thickness of the contact-blade and projecting from saidbase A at about right angles to the axis of the shaft C', which, asbefore stated, passes through the perforations b. Said brushes arelocated intermediately of the pivot-supports C C of the shaft C and areheld at all times in intimate close contact with the blade D in allpositions of the latter, while they, although embracing loosely thepivot-axis of the blade D, are at all times entirely removed fromfrietional or any contact Whatever with the said axis. In some forms ofswitch it may be desirable to have only one pivot-support for blade D,in which case the said brushes are secured upon the base A and extend atright angles therefrom andloosely embrace the pivot-axis of the blade.The

only difference between this construction and the one illustrated in thedrawings and hereinbefore described is that in this form the brushes mayor may not be located nearer to the pivot-support.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a modified form of the locking and releasingdevice, in which a standard II is secured upon the base A and isprovided with perforations in which operate the pusher f, adapted tomove the pivoted postfin one direction, and the springf?, adapted tomove said pivoted post in one direction and to control its movement iuthe opposite direction.

In the form of my invention thus far described the contact blade ormember D may be stopped at any point in its movement in either directionand the blade and actuatinglever there automatically locked together ina position angularly inclined to the surface of the base A by theautomatic engagement of the slide or key e with the notch or groove (lin the end of the blade, when the latter is by the reaction of thesprings, as G Gr', brought into parallelism with the actuating-lever.

In Figs. 9 and lO I have shown modifications of the locking andunlocking device designed in these forms to controllably operate theslide e at the will of the operator to lock and to release the blade andthe actuating-lever at any point in the orbit of their movement. Inthese forms the slide c is actuated bya pivoted lever, as L, actuatedbya pusher, as l, located and operating in the handle portion of theactuating-lever. In the form shown in Fig. 9 the slide or key e isnormally in position to engage with the notch d of the bladeD, while inthe form shown in Fig. lO it is normally drawn back and is by the pusherP forced outward to engage said notch.

Although I have shown and described a IOO notch d in the end of theblade D, adapted for engagement by the slide or key e, I do not wish tolimit myself to that particular form, since it is obvious that anyprojection or ridge would serve in place of said notch or groove for thepurpose intended.

Instead of the perforation b in the contactbrush adapted to receive thepivot-axis of the blade D without contact therewith said brush may beprovided with an open slot and thereby be adapted to partially surroundsaid pivotaxis Without coming into contact with said axis.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of a base, a pivoted contactmember, an actuating-lever pivoted independently of said contact memberupon a pivot-axis common to both, extensible spring connection betweensaid contact member and actuating-lever, said lever being provided witha spring-controlled key, and said contact member being provided withmeans for engagement with said key for locking said contact memberandactu atin g-lever together, and a yielding or spring post secured uponsaid base and provided with an singularly-di- IIO IIS

ISO

rected toepiece arranged for engagement with the' end of said contactmember, all adapted to serve as and for the purposes specified.

2. In an electric switch, the combination with a pivoted contact member,and an actuating-lever mounted independently of said contact member upona pivot-axis common to both, of a spring-controlled slide or key fittedin said lever for locking said lever and contact member together, andmeans for moving said key against the resistance of itscontrolling-spring.

3. In an electric switch having a contact member and an actuating -leverpivotally mounted independently of each other upon a pivot-axis commonto both, a pivot-supporting standard, and means for locking said contactmember and actuating'- lever together, the combination with said partsof a springcontrolled pin arranged for reciprocating movement in saidstandard and adapted for engagement with the rear end of saidactuating-lever to thereby hold it and the Contact vmember in theirraised position.

4. The combination with the base A, pivoted contact member D, providedwith means,

as a notch d, for locking purposes, and an actuating-lever mounted forpivotal movement independently of said member D, upon a pivot-axiscommon to both, and provided with a spring-controlled key e, of astandardH secured upon said base, a pusher f and spring f2 arranged foroperation in said standard, and a hinged postf.

5. In an electric switch the combination of the pivot-supportingstandard, an actuatingleverpivotally mounted on said standard, and aspring-controlled pin arranged in the side of said standard for slidin gmovement at right angles to the plane of movement of saidactuating-lever, and adapted on the rotation of said actuating-lever forautomatic engagement with the side of the same to thereby hold saidactuating-lever in its inoperative position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in presence of twoWitnesses, this 3d day of February, 1898.

- VILLIAM ELY. Witnesses z HENRY MARsH, Jr.,

FREDERIC E. CARPENTER.

